STUDENT ASSESSMENT

IN FINLAND BASIC
EDUCATION
Paris 3.2. 2005

www.oph.f
Helena Kasurinen
The Finnish National Board of Education

For learning and competence

LEGISLATION 1
Act for comprehensive education:
Schools are entitled to evaluate their
work: teaching methods, study results,
and education in general.
Students should be encouraged and
taught for self-assessment.

For learning and competence

THE ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION

Ministry of
Education
educational policy
legislation

agreement on
results for a
period of
3 years

National Board of
Education
national core
curricula
developmental work

national evaluation
information services

For learning and competence

The Finnish National Board of

Education
National curriculum guidelines for
comprehensive education:
goals and contents of pupil assessment
instructions for pupil assessment in 1999
new national core curriculum for comprehensive
education in 2004

For learning and competence

National curriculum guidelines for

comprehensive education
Task of assessment:

to guide and encourage studying of pupils

to evaluate how well the pupils have met the

objectives established for growth and learning

to help the pupil form a realistic image of

his/her learning and development

For learning and competence

National curriculum guidelines for

comprehensive education
Principles of assessment:

assessment is based on diversity of evidence

assessment is to address pupils learning and

progress in different areas of learning

pupils progress, work skills, and behaviour are

assessed in relation to the curriculums goals and
descriptions of good performance

the description of good performance and the fnal

evalutations criteria specify the knowledge and
skill levels that constitute the basis of pupil
assessment
7

For learning and competence

National curriculum guidelines for

comprehensive education
Principles of assessment, cooperation between
school and home:

pupil and the parents/guardian are to be

informed in advance about the grounds for
assessment

in addition to reports assessment feedback can

be given in a diverse manner

For learning and competence

National curriculum guidelines for

comprehensive education
Self-assessment by a pupil

one task of the basic education is to develop

pupils capability for self-assessment

the purpose is to support the growth of pupils

self-knowledge and the development of her/his
study skills

the goal is to reinforce pupils sef-esteem, selfimage as a learner, and sense of involvement

pupils learn to assess their learning progress

and process and to establish goals of their own
9

For learning and competence

National curriculum guidelines for

comprehensive education
Supporting the self-assessment skills of pupils

pupils are to be guided in examining their

learning processes and assessing their skills in
learning and working

teachers have to give regular feedback about

pupils work different methods should be
used

10

For learning and competence